Chinese Pork and Mushroom Stew

In this typical Chinese dish, you need to make sure that you use fresh shitake mushrooms. You can find them in some grocery stores and Asian markets. The five-spice powder and hoisin sauce are common ingredients found in most grocery stores.

Place the pork, five-spice powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix. Place the oil in a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat and add the pork mixture. Sauté until the pork browns, about 20 minutes. Add the mushrooms, broth, 1 cup green onions, hoisin, soy sauce, ginger, and green pepper and bring to boil. Make sure you scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat after the liquid begins to boil to medium-low and cover. Cook for 45 minutes, periodically stirring.

The stew just before the flour is added.

Remove the cover, add the flour, and cook until sauce starts to thicken, about 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the noodles in salted boiling water, drain, and serve with the stew spooned over the noodles. Distribute the remaining ½ cup green onions over each dish.